Dr. Thomas Murnane, a senior vice president who has been instrumental in more than two decades of fundraising at Tufts, has announced plans to retire at the end of the current academic year. Murnane set his final day as June 30, 2003 at this summer's Board of Trustees' meeting.
Murnane has been affiliated with the University for over 40 years as a student, researcher, dean, administrator, and scholar. In his retirement, Murnane will remain a consultant to Tufts.
In 1978, Murnane became the Vice President of Development. That same year, he became involved in the first of three successful capital campaigns. The purpose of these campaigns was to raise money from alumni, parents, and other friends of the University for new dormitories, labs, research centers, and academic buildings.
Murnane holds four academic degrees from Tufts, including a bachelor's degree, a D.M.D, a postgraduate certificate in oral and maxillofacial surgery, and a Ph.D. During the late 1960s, he taught in both the medical and dental schools, and served as acting dean of the dental school from 1971 to 1972.
"Look around you at the buildings and endowment that we didn't have in 1975; look when Tom Murnane became Vice President for Development," former Provost Sol Gittleman said. "There are three presidents and thousands of students who should be thankful that he stopped practicing dentistry."
Murnane, who was unavailable for comment, was also instrumental in the creation of the Tufts School of Veterinary Medicine and the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging in Boston during the late 1970s.
In 1985, Murnane was promoted to Senior Vice President of Development, a position that he has held since.
Murnane's efforts were crucial to the success of the capital campaigns because "while the presidents schmoozed with the prospects, Tom always did the actual requesting of donations," Nelson Gifford, Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Trustees, said.
While Murnane led a staff of people who worked on getting smaller donations, he was always the one to request the larger gifts. Murnane was "on the road quite a bit, talking to people about the University and trying to give them ideas of ways they could help the University with resources," Executive Vice President Steve Manos said.
The first capital campaign raised over $100 million, the most money raised in one campaign in the University's history. The second capital campaign broke this record by raising over $251 million.
Murnane's final campaign, called Tufts Tomorrow, began in 1995 and came to a close last spring. The campaign raised over $609 million, which will be used for new endowed professorships, new research facilities on all Tufts campuses, and dramatically increased financial aid for all Tufts students who need it.
In addition to the three successful capital campaigns he headed, Murnane has served Tufts in many other ways. In the 1980s, Murnane hired Mike Jaharis to serve on the Board of Overseers.
Recently, the Jaharis family donated $11 million to the Tufts Medical School to build the Jaharis Family Center for Biomedical and Nutrition Research. Dean of the School of Medicine John Harrington attributes the acquisition of funds for this "research dream" to Murnane, since he originally brought Jaharis to Tufts.
The nine-story Jaharis research building will be the first of its kind in the 108-year history of Tufts Medical School
Murnane also will be remembered for his genial personality and leadership skills. "He makes you feel at ease, he will mentor you and give you directions on how to succeed," Lonnie Norris, dean of the School of Dentistry, said. "He's sociable, and he gets to know people and brings things together. He has a great concern and dedication for the University."
Murnane's renown extends to many sectors of the University. "Tom is a very easy person to work with, he's very responsive, and has tireless energy," Nathan Gantcher, chairman of the Board of Trustees, said. "The institution was very lucky to have the services of Tom Murnane over the last quarter century or more, and we'd have been hard-pressed to make the strides we've made without him as part of the team."
Gantcher added, "His decision to retire as part of day-to-day activities will not be his last contact with us; Tufts will want to be involved with him forever."
Manos also holds Murnane in high esteem.
"I can't think of a person I'd rather work with," Manos said. "He has the most optimistic view of the world of just about anyone I've worked with. It's a pleasure to be around someone like that. Sometimes sheer optimism makes things happen, and that's been the case with Tom."
Despite Murnane's instrumental role in the advancement of the University, very few students or faculty have heard of him. When asked why he thought this might be the case, Manos jokingly replied, "How many of you have heard of me?"
"Tom Murnane is little-known on campus," Harrington said. "He was 'Mr. Outside' while ex-Provost Sol Gittleman was 'Mr. Inside.' Tom's been around outside as long as Gittleman has been around inside."
As part of the transition, Vice President for Resource Development Brian Lee, will begin reporting to the President on July 1, 2003
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